Can You Run a Business as a Mum of Young Kids (Without Burning Out)?

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Can You Run a Business as a Mum of Young Kids (Without Burning Out)?

Running a business while raising young children can feel overwhelming especially when you’re juggling school runs, nap times, client work, and the constant mental load that comes with motherhood.

In this episode of Small Business Growth Addicts, I’m joined by Calm With Clare founder Clare Crierie  for a real, honest conversation about business and motherhood, burnout, mum guilt, and why looking after yourself isn’t optional if you want your business to be sustainable.

This is a conversation for mums in the trenches, building a business around family life and wondering if it’s actually possible to do both without burning themselves out.

Listen Now 🎧

Hit play on the podcast player at the top of this page.

Connect with Clare on Instagram at @calm.with.clare

What This Episode Is Really About

So many small business owners who are mums find themselves asking:

• Is it possible to run a business as a mum of young kids?

• How do I build a business without burning out?

• Why does mum guilt feel constant when I’m self-employed?

• How do I look after myself when everyone else needs me first?

In this episode, Claire and I talk openly about what it actually looks like to run a business alongside motherhood without pretending it’s neat, perfectly balanced, or Instagram-polished.

One line from this conversation sums it up beautifully:

“To look after a child, you must first look after their mother.”

And once you hear it, it’s hard to ignore how true it really is.

Topics We Touch On

• Running a business and being a mum to young children

• The hidden mental load of motherhood and self-employment

• Business and motherhood without burnout

• Why “self-care” isn’t a luxury for mums in business

• Guilt, pressure, and trying to do everything well

• Small, realistic ways to look after yourself as a mum

• Building a sustainable business that fits around family life

This episode isn’t about adding more to your to-do list, it’s about reframing how you support yourself while you build a business.

Listen Now 🎧

Hit play on the podcast player at the top of this page.

Why This Matters for Mums in Business

If you’re constantly putting yourself last while trying to make your business work, it’s not a mindset problem, it’s a capacity problem and this conversation is a reminder that:

• You’re not doing it wrong

• You’re not the only one finding it hard

• Looking after yourself is part of running a successful business, not a distraction from it

If you’ve ever wondered “how do I look after myself as a mum and still grow a business?” this episode will feel very familiar.

Connect with Claire Cunningham of Word Craft here via her website

Episode Sponsor: Word Craft

Thank you to this episodes sponsor Word Craft, founded by Claire a website strategist and copywriter based in the North East of Scotland, working with clients across the UK and beyond.

Claire helps small business owners and creative entrepreneurs with their website’s words, structure, and flow to attract those “I couldn’t-have-asked-for-better” clients.

You can work with Claire through:

• Done-for-you website copy & blog writing

• A strategic website audit (with a clear action plan)

• One-to-one advisory support so you can DIY your copy with confidence

  
  

📲 Connect with Claire via her website here https://wordcraftservices.co.uk/

Connect With Today’s Guest

• Follow Calm With Claire on Instagram → @calm.with.claire

Claire shares practical, accessible ways to regulate your nervous system and find calm — without needing hours of meditation or unrealistic routines.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy this blog post "Building a Business During Nap Time"